China has lashed out at the
United States, Japan and Australia for issuing a joint statement on the
South China Sea, saying it was only “fanning the flames” of regional
tensions.
In a joint statement on Monday, the foreign
ministers of the three countries expressed ‘strong support’ for
Southeast Asian nations in territorial disputes with China, urging
Beijing not to construct military outposts and not to reclaim land in
the South China Sea.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday
dismissed the trilateral statement, questioning the trio to be
peacekeepers or troublemakers.

“This trilateral
statement is fanning the flames,” he said. “Now it is the time to test
whether you are peacekeepers or troublemakers,” said Wang, referring to
the three countries.

Wang said the move by the trio came at an inappropriate time and wasn't constructive.
He
said that regional countries are now determined to enhance cooperation
and want to see the South China Sea situation cool down.
On
Sunday, the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN), whose most of its members having competing claims
to the South China Sea, did not fulfill a demand by the Philippines to
mention a recent ruling on the South China Sea dispute.